Aluminum Convoluted Tubing Benefits for Automotive Applications
2nd May 2023
Benefits of Convoluted Tubing in Automotive Applications
In the automotive industry, wire protection is a crucial element to ensure the safety, functionality, and longevity of electrical systems. With the increasing demand for reliable and durable wire protection, convoluting tubing has become the ideal solution in automotive applications around any engine components that emit heat to protect nearby cabling from radiant heat damage. Convoluted tubing offers numerous benefits that make it stand out among other types of wire protection solutions.
Benefits of Convoluted Tubing
Enhanced Protection
Not only does convoluted tube provide thermal management protection, which is the number one reason it’s so often selected for automotive applications, it also offers excellent protection against vibration, abrasion, and chemical erosion from products that are often used in automotive applications.
Ease of Installation
Convoluted tubing is highly flexible, allowing it to conform to the shape of wires, connectors, and other components for a quick and easy install. Additionally, the tubing's convoluted structure enables it to expand and contract to accommodate changes in temperature, reducing the risk of wire damage in an engine compartment with extreme fluctuations in temperature.
Cost-Effective
Compared to many of the braided sleeving, heat shrink tubing, and other specialty cable protective products on the market, convoluted tubing is a very cost-effective option. The simple installation also reduces labor costs during installation.
Convoluted Tube Applications in Automotive:
Our Most Popular Convoluted Tubing Products for Automotive Applications
Techflex Thermashield Convoluted tubing is engineered by laminating an aluminized metallic heat shield to a layer of strong, tightly braided fiberglass insulation. This system provides superior protection from radiant heat by reflecting it away from sensitive electronics, wiring and hoses. The result is a thermal buffer between the cables and the high-temperature environments surrounding them. With the ability to withstand temperatures up to 1,200°F without delaminating, turning brittle, or suffering adhesive failure, Thermashield is ideal in any situation where protection from radiant heat is a primary concern.
Clevaflex Exhaust Sleeves from Federal Mogul / Tenneco offer complete 360° thermal protection for critical components when covering exhaust pipes, EGR tubes, down tubes, or ducting carrying hot gasses or liquids. The convoluted sleeves are made of woven fiberglass, aluminum, or stainless steel, mechanically overlapped, and then bonded to each other with a thermosetting adhesive. They help maintain internal temperatures by reducing heat loss and can withstand internal surface temperatures up to +595°C (+1103°F) when made with aluminum and +1370°C (+2498°F) when made with stainless steel. Additionally, they're flexible, easy to install and route, provide noise dampening, and have a high strength-to-weight ratio.
ConvoShield® AL from Federal Mogul / Tenneco is another reflective convolute sleeve designed to provide thermal protection for components in radiant heat environments. It's composed of a high-temperature nylon 4,6 polymer base substrate and a highly reflective coating, providing protection for wires, cables, and hoses in applications that have radiant heat source temperatures as high as +538ºC (+1000ºF). The reflective surface is extremely resistant to automotive fluids and may be classed as insulative against 12 volt automotive currents, making it ideal for applications such as battery cables and alternator wiring harnesses.
Your Source for Automotive Cable Protection
Browse our convoluted tubing and other wire loom products for automotive applications to find the solution you’re after for your application. At Titan Electronics, you’ll find all the cable management and wire protective products you need from industry leading manufacturers. Need help deciding on the right product for your application? Contact us today to speak with one of our product experts for assistance.